TOP 5: MAN OF STEEL, THE HOBBIT Interviews, PACIFIC RIM, GANGSTER SQUAD Set Visit, AFTER EARTH

I offered a similar sentiment following the tragedy at Aurora, CO back in July and I’ll do the same today: the event that unfolded yesterday in Newtown, CT is inexcusable and genuinely heartbreaking, even from a distance. The optimist in me wants to believe that any negative situation can be used to educate and improve the world we live in going forward. In this case, I’m hopeful but unsure that’s possible. On behalf of everyone here at Collider, I want to offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who were lost yesterday.

As petty as it may seem, I feel fortunate to be able to offer a bit of diversion to your day with this week’s Top 5. Included in a trailer-heavy rotation this week is a new cut from Zack Snyder‘s Man of Steel, The Hobbitinterviews with Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis and more, the first trailer for Guillermo del Toro‘s Pacific Rim, Andre’s coverage from his Gangster Squadset visit, and the first look at Will Smith and Jaden Smith gallivanting across the human unfriendly Mother Earth found in M. Night Shyamalan’s After Earth. A brief recap and link to each will greet you after the jump.

1. New MAN OF STEEL Trailer

Subdued, atmospheric, somber, dreary. These are not the adjectives I expect to use when discussing either Superman and/or Zack Snyder. And yet, they’re exactly what come to mind each time I watch this latest trailer from the director’s Man ofSteel. Whether it’s a good or bad thing will remain a mystery until next June. For now, color me very interested.

2. THE HOBBIT Interviews with Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis and More

Reactions have been mixed for Peter Jackson’s return to Middle Earth. Even around these parts, Matt and Dave felt considerably different about The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, or your thoughts on the 48fps 3D, if you have any interest in learning more about the pic from those who helped make it then I recommend checking out Steve’s video interviews with Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, and Weta Digital’s Sr. Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Letteri. While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out Sheila’s NY press day recap featuring Peter Jackson as well.

3. First Trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s PACIFIC RIM

When the first trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rimdebuted this past week I imagined a considerable number of aspiring filmmakers sighing in despair at the thought of unwitting viewers asking why the robots in their movies aren’t as pristine and, for the lack of a better word, badass as GDT’s. To anyone who may have actually felt that way, if even for a split second, I can only offer this piece of advice: the NBA had a lot of other players make great livings and have great careers during Jordan’s years with the Bulls. Keep your head up, keep doing your thing, and just appreciate being able to watch one of the best at work.

4. GANGSTER SQUAD Set Visit Coverage

I count Ruben Fleischer’s Gangster Squadamongst my most anticipated for 2013. The cast, the era, the genre, Fleischer’s previous work, and what we’ve seen from the film thus far all point towards a memorable crime action/drama. That in mind, this past week our Andre Dellamorte only served to whet my appetite more with coverage of his visit to Squad’s Bellflower, California set. If you share in my anticipation, get in here: visit recap and interviews with Josh Brolin, Ruben Fleischer, Anthony Mackie, Robert Patrick, Giovanni Ribisi, and producers Dan Lin and Kevin McCormick.

5. First Trailer for AFTER EARTH Reveals Will and Jaden Smith Are on Earth!

I may be in the minority, but I was caught off guard by the quantity of responses brought on by the first trailer for the Will Smith/Jaden Smith/M. Night Shyamalan team-up After Earth. I can’t figure out if the responsibility lies with the popularity of Team Smith, the overall appeal of ripping Shyamalan at every possible opportunity, the mind-blowing realization that the human-less planet on which they crash land is in fact Earth, or all of the above. Regardless, the important thing here is that Jaden Smith and M. Night continue to make movies that people want to talk about…for every bit of 12 seconds before moving on to something more substantial (i.e. Keyboard Cat).